Kinetochores and microtubules wed without a ring.
Proper chromosome segregation in mitosis requires tethering of spindle microtubules to the kinetochore. Using electron tomography of mammalian cells, McIntosh et al. (2008) now report the presence of fibrils that connect the inner kinetochore to the curved protofilaments at microtubule ends, suggesting a new model for force generation in chromosome movement.
Bloom
Kerry
K
Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA. kerry_bloom@unc.edu
D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure